Fluid pressure engine



June 23',- 1931. F. A. GERLING I FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE Filed Jan. 18, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l om m M3 L3 kl at c INVENTOR. E50 A. GERL/NG,

BY ATTORNEY.

June 23, 1931. F. A. GERLING FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE Filed Jan. 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 r lNVENTOR. RED A. GERL/NG Q W A TTORNEY.

June 23, 1931. F. A. GERLING FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE Filed Jan. 18, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Q f/FEDA. GERL/NG MW W ATTORNEY.

A e 1931. F. A. GERLING FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE Filed Jan. 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. fkm A. 65m uva,

fi @JEL O ATiORNEY.

Patented June 23, 1931 r FREDA. GERLING, oF soish-inhno Application filed J'anua'r'y 18, 19st. 'fs'er iai'irb. 4 21MB.

My 'inyention relates toilnproveihents in fluid pressure engines oper 'zttejd upon steam or compressed'a1r or other gases under pressure.

In accordance 'with m -invehtidn,rre- 7 y 4- 4 of Figfire3,

vide an engine to bedriven by steam,' fc on1- pressed air or other pressure. The en- 'gine embodies a unit-of two cylinders, yvlth pistons operating therein. Thearrang'eme'nt renders it possible to elirninate lise of stufling bokes and g1ands,fand affordingfre'e access to the pistons and their packing rings andthe connections between thefpistonsfand the Connecting rods. By employing the two Cylinders and pistonstherein, the entireeffective areas of the pistons are ntilized 'thiis" obtainingthe maximum power and'eflic iency.

The opposit eends of the cyhnders are dosed,

and eaoh cylinder, has inlet and exhaust v'al esl The means to shift the valves seryes to closebothjya lyes of each cylinder-f, as the piston approaches the end of its in stroke, prior to opening the inlet Valve, for [prov-idingponipression inthe cylinder, ,as the folnt stroke commences, The engine also enn'hod V ies a centra li'z ing neohanisn serving to eonnectfthe reciprocatory pistons with a rotary driven me er, and the arrangeinentis siich that equal pressure is applied to theop'posite sides of the pistons and there is no tendency for; the pistons to tilt and teeefiieworn upon their loiver side.) The arrangement also eliminates the use of G ese-head's andfgihs. The engine also einhodis anau'xilia'r'y rotatahle timing eleine nt eopne tee "withithe tons of the engine tohmittheir reciprocatory "lnovern'ents'ga'nd the timingfelernent may be p rotated in fe'ither direction ind pend n ly; of the direction of rotationof the driven power distribnting element. j The oonnections'between thefcentrahzing mechanism and the rotatable driven member is such that'th'e re are no dead centers. for the connections.

I11 the accompanying drawings, forminga pert of this specification, andin which like nnmerals are employed to designate like parts throiighontj'the same,

Fig'nrel is a side 'elieyation of the com- 3 p'lete engine, embodying my invention,

the engine, the "end "portionshein'g "broken *takenthrough line 8+8'of Figure Liand,

Merit of my inverition the numeral 15desig- T "nates 'a hase. Mdtnited upon the left end of timingmounted the eon Valve actuating niechanisin, v v 7 Figure 3s a plan View ofthecomp'lete engins, I m.

Figure i is a vertical" section taken on'hne Figiire 2 is a diagramniatic View of the I Figure 5fis a transverse seetion taken on line 5-5'of Figure 4; 1

Figure 6 'is an enlar ed side e'leyati'on 'of Figure 7 'is a lan VieWofth e'engine shown in Figure 6'." h t Figure Sis an enlarged vertioa l section v "Figure '9 is an enlarged vertical section taken through line 9-9 ofFigure '1.

Inithe drawings, wherein for'the purpose of illustration 'is shown a preferred einbodithis are uprights 'o'Ij stfindards 16', iming bearings 17 rotatably-receivinge trans- Verse fsh'aft 18. A fly Whee119 is rigidly mountednp'gn'the shaft 185 to tiirn therewith,

and this she-ft also rotates a riulley 20. A

W "lenient or crank-discQl is carriedby the shaft 18 and rotates therewith: Uprights orlfstanda'rds 22 are rigidly 'dunted upon the base 1'5,near'itsright end and have 'beari1igs 28, rotatably "receiving Fa transverse shaft '24. 'This transverse shaft has "a power distr'i hutir'ig pulley 25 rigidly The shaft 24' carries a:po ver'tra nsinitting 'er'ajbly diametrically opp'ositely arran'ged and provided attheir inner ends With-separate hubs and 31 which are independentlypiv- 'otal'ly liiountednp dn the shaft 24. Pafticu lar "attention is called to the fact that these operating a rinsf28 and 29 are independently pivoted upon the common shaft-24, The 0P crating arm 28 has its upper end provided with a fork 30 receiving a generally radial body portion 31 of a gripping device. This body portion is pivoted near its outer end to the fork 30, as shown at 32. The body portion 31 is provided with outer and inner arms 33 and 34, preferably formed integral therewith, and these arms carry cross-heads 35 and 36, provided with gripping jaws 37 and 38, respectively, arranged to grip above and beneath the flanges or bands 27, as shown. The movement of the radial body portion 31 upon its pivot in a direction to release the jaws from gripping action with the bands 27 is limited by an adjustable bolt 39, having screw-threaded engagement with a bracket 40 carried by the fork 30. The operating arm 29 is provided at its outer end with a gripping device 41, identical with the gripping device carried by the arm 28, except that the gripping jaws 37 and 38 face in an opposite direction. The gripping device carried by the arm 28, Figure 4, is adapted to turn the fly wheel 26 when the arm 28 is swung to the I right, while the gripping device 41 carried by the arm 29 is adapted to turn the fly wheels in the same direction when swung to the left. These gripping devices, therefore, operate in opposite directions to effect a turning movement of the fly wheel. It is thought to be unnecessary to describe the gripping device 41 further in detail.

Arranged upon the inner portion of the base 15 are vertical supports or'uprights 42 and 43, having cylinders 44 and 45, rigidly mounted thereon. Mounted to reciprocate within these cylinders are pistons 46 and 47, respectively, rigidly connected with piston rods 48 and 49, preferably by means of screw-threads, and the inner ends of these piston rods have screw-threaded engagement with a cross-hub 50 and are locked thereto by clamping nuts 51, or the like. This crosshub has lateral extensions 52, upon which are pivotally mounted centralizing connecting links 53, by means of pins or pivots 54, the pivots passing through the center of the connecting links. Connecting rods are piv- 53 and extend to the left for pivotal connection with the timing'element or crank-disc 21,as shown at 56. The connecting rods 55 are offset inwardly at 57, as shown. By the use of two cylinders and pistons therein. glands or stuffing boxes are eliminated and the inner ends of the cylinders are left open, to afford free access to the pistons and their rings. Further, the entire areas of the pistons are acted upon by the steam or the like, thus increasing the power and efliciency of the engine.

The numerals 58 and 58 designate centralizing levers pivoted at their upper ends, as shown at 59, with a support 60. The numerals 61 and 61 designate a pair of coacting centralizing levers which are pivoted at their lower ends, as shown at 62, with a support '63. These centralizing levers are pivotally connected with the links 53, as shown at 64 and 65. A connecting rod 66 extends between the upper ends of the centralizing levers 61 and 61 and is pivotally connected therewith, as shown at 67. This connecting rod extends to the right and projects into the fork 30 and is pivotally connected with the inner end of the body portion 31 of the gripping device, as shown at 68, Figures4 and 5. A lower connecting rod 69 extends between the lower ends of the centralizing levers 58 and 58 and is pivotally connected therewith, as shown at 70. The rod 69 extends to the right and enters the forked end of the arm 29 and is pivotally connected with the body portion 31 of the gripping device 41, as shown at 71, Figure 5. It is thus seen that the pairs of centralizing levers 58 and 58 and 61 and 61 swing in unison, and their swinging movement is imparted to the fly wheels 26 through the gripping devices, which impart an intermittent force to the same, to cause their rotation, one gripping device being active while the other is inactive. The gripping devices preferably swing through an arc of about and can not become arranged at dead center, with respect to the fly wheels 27.

The cylinder 44, see more particularly Figure 2 has an inlet port 72, in communication with a fluid pressure supply pipe 73. This inlet port is covered and uncovered by means of an oscillatory valve 74, turned by a crank 75. The cylinder 44 also has an exhaust port 76 covered and uncovered by an oscillatory valve 77, turned by a crank 78. The cylinder by an oscillatory valve 80, turned by a crank 81. The port 79 is in communication with a fluid pressure supply pipe 82, and pipes 73 and 82 have communication with a common fluid pressure supply pipe 84. The cylinder 45 has an exhaust port 85 covered and uncovered by an oscillatory valve 86 turned by means of a crank 87. oted upon the pins 54 outwardly of the links 7 Valve shifting mechanism is provided to alternately open and close the inlet valve 74 and exhaust valve 86,- comprising vertically swinging levers 88 and 89, pivotally supported at their lower ends, shown at 90. These lcvers are arranged upon the same side of the engine with the centralizing arm 58. The

' lever 88 is provided atits upper end with a fork 91, having its ends attached to suitably stiff retractile coil springs 92, see more particularly Figure 6, which extend inwardly for connection with the eyes of a coupling 93, which is rotatably mounted upon a pin or bolt 94, also rotatably mounted in an opening formed on the outer end of the crank 75. The lever 89 has a fork 95, which is connected by identical means including springs 92 and as- 45 has an inlet port 79, covered and uncovered sociated 'eleinentsfwith the crank 87. l The levers 88 and 89 are connected by means of ;a rod 96. The exhaust valve 77 is opened and closed byineans of a lever 97, connected with the crank 78 by the identical yielding connect-- ing means described in connection with the lever 88,includ'ing the springs 92.

v The inlet valve 80 is opened and closedby means of a lever 98, connectedwith the crank 81, by yielding means identical withthat described inconnection with the lever 88 includ "ing the springs 92. "The levers 97and 98-a-re disposed upon the opposite side of thecylinders 44 and 45with respect to the levers 88 and-89, and are pivotally supported at their lower ends,-as shown at 99 to swing in a vertical plane longitudinally of the cylinders.

The levers97 and 98 areconnec'ted by a rod 100. As'more clearlyshown" in Figure 7, thepins'94 carried by the: cranks'75 and .78'are provided at their upper endswithheads or" blocks 101, havingopenings for receiving ad justa-ble eye-bolts 102, connected with arei cranks 81 and 87 are provi ed at their tops tractile coil" spring 103. A stop 104 is a,

rangedto limit the swinging movement of the crank '7 5 when the "intake valve 74 is'in the open position,"while a stop 105 limits (the movement of the crank when the valve-74 is in the closed positiol g A stop 106 limits the e movement of'the crank 78 when'the'exhaust valve 77 is in theclosed position, and a stop 107 limits the movement of the crank; 108 when the valve 77 is 1111 the, open position.

When the cranks and 78are shifted into engagement with the corresponding stops, it

is obvious that the spring 103' will retain them in such positions- The pins '94 carried-by the with heads or blocks '108,'carryingadjustabie eye-bolts 109, connected by a retractile 001].

spring 110. A stop 111 limits the movement of the crank 87 when the exhaust valve 86 is in the openposition and a stop 112 limits the movement of the crank 87, when the eX- haust valve is in theiclosed'position. A stop 113 limits the movement of the crank 81 when the inlet valve is in theclosed positiom'and a stop 114 limits the movement of the crank 81 whenthe valve 80 is'in the openzposition.

The spring serves to hold the" cranks 81 and '87 in position-whenshifted toengage with the corresponding stopsi Particular at tention is called to the fact that whelrthe' cranks 7 5a'nd 78 are shifted pa-st transverse T dead center in either directiointhe spring 103. V will quickly snap thecranks'to theends of their movements, in engagement with the Bland 87.: V V 1 In view of the foregoing description} it will be seen that when theinlet lvalve -74of the cylinder 44is opened, exhaust valve 77jof this stops. The same action occurs with the cranks cylinder is closed, while thee'xhaust valve 86 80 is closed,'and vice versa.

of the cylinder 45'is openedand the inlet valve 1y adjustably' attached to the The numeral 115 designates a-shoe carried "by the-upper endof-a verticallyswinging lever-116, which is pivoted between itsends 7 uipon the rod 96, asshown at 1'17. 'Ihe lower end-oi this lever is connected with a retractile coil spring 118, the other end otwhi'ch'isattached' to an arm 119 angular ly-adjustably secured t0 the rod96. Alink 120 is pivotally connected with the'upper end ofthe'xlever 116 asshown M121, and the link is providedat its outer end with a'slot'122, receiving abolt secured t an arm 124,'whichisangularrod96. "It is thusfse'en that the spring 118 and associated elements yieldingly oppose the outward swinging movement of the upper end'of the lever 116, within limits, but when the end wall of the slot 122 engage'sthe bolt 123, this outward swinging-movement of the lever 116 is positively stopped. shoe 125' is: carried by the upper-end ofthe lever 126, which is pivoted to swing in' avertical plane, between its ends, as shown at 127, upon'the rod'96j." A

r'etractile coil" spring 128 is secured 'tofthe 1 lower endofthe lever 126 and is attached to 90 i an arm-129 angularly adjustably secured-to the-rod 96. I i end of the 1ever1'26-as shown at131'and has a A link is pivoted to the upper slot 182 at its outer end,*receiving a{bolt 133. V

carriedby an arm 134 angularly adj'ustably secured to thebar'96, It is thus seen that the spring 128 and-associated elements yieldingly oppose the outward swinging movement of the upper end of thearm 126,butfwhen the end wall of the slot 132 engages the bolt 133, such outward swingingmovement ofthe lever 126 is positivelystoppedg Theshoes. 115 and'125 are arranged upon opposite-sides V and in the path of travel of arolleror'tripping element 135, which is -mounted upon the centralizing Whenthe centralizing lever 58 is in the vertical or neutral position, the r oller 135 isequi-distantly spaced from the shoes/115 1 and 125 and it is-obviou's-that this roller upon the swinging-movement of the centralizing lever 58 will alternately engage these/shoes, thereby shifting the rod 96 in oppositedirections. 7

The shoe '136 is mountedupon the rod 110 by the identical means as described in connection with theshoe lever 58, ata point near and I Y above the connectingpoint96.

115,- and a shoe 137 ,is

mounted upon the rod 100- by the identical means, as described in connection with the shoe 125, The shoes 136 and 137 are arranged upon opposite sides ofa roller 01 trip as described.

spect to the shoe 115.

Centrifugal means are employed to regulate the speed of the engine, comprising a centrifugal governor 139 of any well known or preferred type, which is so constructed that a vertical rod 140 will be lowered as the speed of the governor increases. The centrifugal governor isdriven by-means of a pulley 141, receiving 1ts rotation from a belt 142 engaging the pulley 20. The vertically movable rod 141 is connected with a vertically movable valve element 143, included in a valve structure 144, connected in the pipe 73. The vertically movable rod 140 also has suit able connection with a vertically swinging bell crank lever 145, having connection with a rod 146, whichis connected with a second bell crank lever 147, the horizontal arm 148 of which is connected with a vertically movable rod 149, connected with a vertically movable valve element 150 of a valve structure 151, connected in the pipe 82. It is thus seen that the centrifugal governor 139 will automatically regulate the volume of fluid pressure supplied to the cylinders, for regulating the speed of the engine.

The operation of the engine is as follows:

In the beginning of the cycle of operation, the pistons 46 and 47 are in the central position, and centralizing levers 58 and 58 are in the central vertical position, and rollers 135 and 138 out of contact with all shoes, as clearly illustrated in Figure With the elements thus arranged, the inlet valve 74 of the cylinder 44 is open and exhaust valve 77 closed, while inlet valve 80 of cylinder 45 is closed and exhaust valve 86 is open. Steam or other fluid under pressure is now passing into the cylinder 44 moving the piston 46 to the right. This movement continues until the pistons 46 and 47 near their end stroke to the right. The centralizing levers 58and 58 are swung to the right and rollers 135 are adaptedto engage shoes and 137, respectively, to shift the bars 96 and 100 to the right. The bars 96 and 100 swing the levers 38 and S9,

and 89 and 98 to the right. The lever 89 first closes the exhaust valve 36, before the inlet valve 80 is opened, whereby both valves are closed before the piston 47 has reached the endof its right stroke, steam or the like being entrapped in the end of the cylinder 45 and compressed, the valve 86 remaining closed and valve 80 being shifted to the open position at about the time that the piston 47 reaches the end of its right stroke. Due to the action of the rod 96, the inlet valve 74 of cylinder 44 is closed shortly before the opening of the exhaust valve 77, thereby permitting of the completion of the right stroke of the piston 46, due to the expansion of the steam or the like within the cylinder. When the piston 46 reaches the end of its right stroke, the exhaust valve 77 is opened and inlet valve closed, and steam will exhaust from.

before roller engages shoe 115, the action.

being to close the exhaust valve 77 prior to the o aeninr of the inlet valve 74 whereb Y 1 s 3 steam or the like is entrapped in the end of the cylinder 44 and compressed by the piston 46.

At about the time that the piston 46,?

reaches the end of its left stroke, the exhaust valve'47 remains closed while inlet valve 74 is opened and steam is supplied into the cylinder 44, the pistons 46 and 47 then traveling to the right until they reach the central position, which is the beginning of the cycle of operation. When the piston 47 approaches the end of its left stroke inlet valve 80 is closed prior to the opening of exhaust valve 36, permitting of the expansion of the steamor the like to complete the power stroke. The rotatable timing element or cam disc 21 being connected with the pistons through the medium of connecting rods 55 and associated elements, serve to control the cycle of operation of the pistons, their timing, and to limit their extent of travel in opposite directions, preventing the pistons from impinging against the ends of their cylinders. Should the engine stop with the pivot of the connect- 1 ing rods 55 on dead center, the rotatable timing element 21 may be turned to move the pivot off of dead center without turning the power distributing unit of the engine.

Upon the movement of the pistons 46 and .1

47, to the right, centralizing levers 61 and 61 are swung to the r ght shiftingconnecting rod 66 to the right. The aws 36 and 37 of the gripping dev1ce now have gripping action with the flanges 27, turning the fly 11.

wheel 26. The arm 28 swings through a relatively short are and the pivot 68 never gets upon dead center. hen the pistons 46 and 47 reach the end of their right stroke, the

right movement of the rod 66 is stopped, but 17.3

operating arm 28 moves a short distance due to inertia and this relative movement 'between the arm 28 and rod 66 serves to swing the ripping device upon its pivot to bring jaws 36 and 37 out of engagement with the 1:3

flanges 27. Hence when the pistons 46 and 47 travel to the left, gripping jaws 36 and 37 will travel over the flanges 27 without having clamping engagement therewith. When the centralizing lever 58 and 58 swing to 1.2:;

the left, rod 69 is shifted to the left and the jaws 37 and 38 0f the gripping device 41 now have gripping engagement with the flanges 27, turning the fly wheels 26. When the pistons reach the end of the left stroke,

. tribnting member.

' it is to be understo p p od that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be takenas a preferred exainpletofthe same,'and that variouschanges inthe shape,

size and arrangement ofparts,may be resorted to without departing from the spir t of my invention, or the scope of the'sub joined claims.

. Having thus described my invention, I cla1m 1. In an engine, a pear of cylinders, inlet and outlet valves connected withone end of j and outlet'valves connected with one endof each cylinder, pistons within the cylinders, piston rod means connecting the pistons, cell'- tra lizing levers arrangednear thepiston rod means and connected therewithto be shifted ;l1ereby,'valve shifting means actuated by one centralizing lever, a rotary power'distributing member, and means actuated by the centralizinglevers to drive said member.

2. In an engine, a pair of cylinders, inlet and outlet valves connected with one end of each cylinder, pistons within the cylinders, piston rod means connecting the pistons, pairs of centralizing leveisarrangednear the piston rod means, centralizinglinks con nected with" the'piston rod meansand with the centralizing levers, valveshi't'ting mechanism operated by onepair of centralizing levers, a rotatable power distributing mem-- her, and means operated by the two pairs of centralizing levers to drive the powerdis- '3. In an engine, a pair and outlet valves connected with one'endof each cylinder, pistons within the cylinders,

piston rod means connecting the pistons,pairs of central zing levers arranged [near the piston rod means, centralizing links plvotally connected with the piston rod means and with the centralizing levers, pairs of swinging levers connected with saidvalves, rods connectingthe swinging levers inone pair with the swinging levers 1n the other pair, a palr of shoes carried by each rod, tripelements' carried by the centralizing levers in one pair and disposed between the pairsof shoes for coaction therewith, a rotatable power d1stributing member, and intermittently oper-,

ating devices connected with both pairs of centralizing levers to drive the member.

I. In an "engine, a pair of cylinders, mist and outlet: valves connected with one end of each cylinder, pistons within the cylinders,

piston rod' means connecting the; pistons, pairs of centralizing levers arranged near the piston rod means, centralizing links of cylinders, inlet pivotally connected with the piston rod meansand with {thepairs of centralizing levers, pairs of swinging levers connected with said valves,rods conneetingthe swinging levers in one, p air with theswinging levers in the other pair, a pair of shoes carried by eachrod, oneshoefcarriedby one ,rodbeing disposed inwardly and in advance of the cor responding shoe carried by the, other red and one shoe'carried by 'snch'otherrod being disposed inwardly of and in; advance of the corresponding shoe carried by the first named rod, trip elements carried by'the centralizing levers in one'pair and disposed between the pairs ot'lshoes for co-action therewith, arotatable power, distributing member, and intermittently operating devices connected with both pairs of centralizing levers to drive said member. V H p 5. In an engine, a pair of cylinders, inlet each cylinder, a pair of cranks connected with the inlet and outlet valves of each cylinder, a-pair of spaced stops arranged to'limit the movement of each crank in opposite directions, a retractil-e coil spring connecting necting the swinging leversin any onepair with the swinging levers mlthe other pa r, I

a pair of shoesca'rried by each rod,-pistons within the cylinders, piston rod means connecting the pistons, pairs "of centralizing levers injone pair connected with'the piston rod means, trip elements carried by the centralizing levers and arra'nged between the pairs of shoes to engage therewith, a rotatable. power distributing member, and means operated by the bothpairs of centralizing levers'tol drive the member.

V 6. In an engine,a pair'ot cylinders, pistons withinithe cylinders, pistonrod means-connecting the pistons, lnlet andeexhanst means for each cylinder, centralizinglevers,eXtending transversely of the piston rodmeansbetween the cylinders, mean's forpivotally supporting one centralizing lever upon one side of the piston rod means and the other centralizing lever upon the opposite side of the piston rod means, rods connected with the free ends of the centralizing levers, means connecting the centralizing levers with the piston rod means, a rotatable power distributing member, and intermittently operating devices connected with the rods'to drivethe 7 member.

" 7 In an engine, a pair of cylinders, pistons within-the cylinders, piston rod means 7 connecting the piston, inlet and exhaust meanskfor each cylinder a "rotatable stroke regulating element, a rod connected with the rotatable stroke regnlastingelement and with the piston rod means, a pair of centralizing levers extending transversely of the piston rod means, means for pivotally supporting the centralizing levers at points upon opposite sides of the piston rod means, a centralizing link pivotally connected with the piston rod means and with the centralizing levers, a rotatable member, rods pivotally connected with the free end portions of the centralizing levers, and gripping devices connected with the rods and adapted to engage portions of the rotatable member, said gripping devices operating in opposite directions.

8. In an engine, a pair of cylinders, pistons within the cylinders, piston rod means connecting the pistons, inlet and exhaust means for each cylinder, a rotatable stroke regulating element, a rod connected with the rotatable stroke regulating element and with the piston rod means, a pair of centralizing levers extending transversely of the connecting rod means and pivotally supported upon opposite sides of the same, a centralizing link pivotally connected with the piston rod means and with the centralizing levers, rods pivotally connected with the opposite free ends of the centralizing levers, a rotatable member embodying a band, a pair of operating levers disposed adjacent to the member and independently pivotally mounted concentrically with relation to the axis o t rotation of the said member, gripping devices pivotally mounted upon the operating levers and arranged to engage with said band and connected with said rods, said gripping devices operating in opposite directions.

9. In an engine, a pair of cylinders, inlet and exhaust means arranged at one end of each cylinder, pistons within the cylinders, piston rod means connecting the pistons, centralizing levers pivotally supported up on opposite sides of the piston rod means and connected therewith to be driven thereby, a rotatable member, gripping devices engaging the rotatable member to turn the same, said gripping devices operating in opposite directions, rods connected with the gripping devices and with the free ends of the centralizing levers, a rotatable stroke regulating element, and a connecting rod connected with the timing element and with the connecting rod means, the stroke regulating element be ing rotatable in either direction independent- ]gy oi the direction of rotation of said mem- 10. In an engine, a. pair of cylinders, inlet and exhaust means connected with one end of each cylinder, pistons within the cylinders, piston rod means connecting the pistons, centralizing levers pivotally supported upon opposite sides of the piston rod means and connected with the same, a rotatable member, operating levers pivotally supported at the center of the rotatable member and extending in opposite directions, gripping devices carried by the operating levers and engaging the rotatable member and operating in opposite directions, rods connected with the gripping devices and with the centralizing levers, a rotatable stroke regulating element, and a rod connecting the stroke regulating element with the connecting rod means, the stroke regulating element beingrotatable in either direction independently of the rotation of said member. 7

11. In an engine, a pair of cylinders, inlet and exhaust means connected with one end of each cylinder, pistons within the cylinders, piston rod means connecting the pistons, centralizing levers pivotally supported upon opposite sides of the piston rod means and connected with the same, a rotatable member, operating levers pivotally supported at the center of the rotatable member and extending in opposite directions, gripping devices carried by the operating levers and engaging the rotatable member and operating in opposite directions, rods connected with the gripping devices and with the centralizing levers, arotatable stroke regulating element, a rod connecting the stroke regulating element with the piston rod means, the stroke regulating element being rota-table in either direction independently of the rotation of said member, means including a centrifugal governor to control the supply of fluid pressure to the inlet means, and means whereby the centrifugal governor is driven by the stroke regulating element.

12. In an engine, a pair of cylinders, inlet and exhaust means connected with one end of each cylinder, pistons in the cylinders, piston rod means connecting the pistons, centralizing levers connected with the piston rod means, a rotatable member, gripping means to engage the rotatable member and connected with the centralizing levers, and a rotatable stroke regulating element connected with the piston rod means to regulate the stroke of the pistons.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

FRED A. GERLING. 

